Our vision

The craftmanlike process of alcohol distillation is symbolic for the distillate of a tech startup: the premium products are generated from the best fruit. And if you want to be successful as a young entrepreneur, you need to think big – „shoot the moon“.

The „Moonshine“ association aims at unleashing the transformative potential of Berne-based DeepTech innovation by gathering a whole startup ecosystem at an unique location, the „Moonshine Labs“.

Concept

The Moonshine Labs will be a modular center of gravity for

▪ scientist-entrepreneurs

▪ creative minds

▪ corporate representatives

▪ enablers

▪ investors

▪ policy makers

▪ and the public

to boost Berne-based DeepTech innovation. The Moonshine Labs will be inspired by other internationally success models such as „Station F“ in Paris or the „MIT Media Lab“, while enormous emphasis will be put on a holistic integration of the project in terms of the socioeconomic and city development contexts of the city of Berne.

Opportunity

Länggasse is one of the most dynamic neighbourhoods in Berne featuring

▪ World-renowned science (e.g. MedTech, SpaceTech and CleanTech)

▪ International talent

▪ Entrepreneurship movements

all together representing the perfect breeding ground for Berne-basedDeepTech innovation. In turn, Moonshine Labs will brighten Länggasse and create locally rooted value added.

Location

An old sleeping beauty and a modern multifunctional unit at a unique location

Association

The association Moonshine acts as an enabler to create a holistic and inclusive creative ecosystem that draws all stakeholders together needed to make the vision of the “Moonshine Labs” become reality. The executive board of the association is composed of locally rooted scientists, entrepreneurs and networkers with ties to universities, the innovation and startup scene, and city development.

The „Moonshine“ association is planning a DeepTech accelerator in the former real estates of the federal alcohol department.

The craftmanlike process of alcohol distillation is symbolic for the distillate of a high-tech startup: the premium products are generated from the best fruit. And if you want to be successful as a young entrepreneur, you need to think big – „aim for the moon“.

DeepTech is defined as disruptive solutions to pressing issues built around unique, protected or hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances. In contrast to other international and Swiss university hubs, no „DeepTech“ incubator for startups is to be found in Berne. This shall now be changed: the recently founded association „Moonshine“ aims to build a hotspot exactly for these types of companies within the former real estates of the federal alcohol department. The „Moonshine Labs“ will host an ecosystem for DeepTech startups and their environment. The Moonshine Labs will be inspired by other internationally success models such as „Station F“ in Paris or the „MIT Media Lab“, while enormous emphasis will be put on a holistic integration of the project in terms of the socioeconomic and city development contexts of the city of Berne.

The executive board of the association is composed of locally rooted scientists, entrepreneurs and networkers with ties to universities, the innovation and startup scene, and city development. The new owners of the former real estates of the federal alcohol department are embracing the plans and have granted a temporary exclusivity. The executive board will take advantage of this period to bring together the most important stakeholders and supporters of the Bernese and Swiss Startup scene in order to make the Moonshine Labs become reality.